UKC

I have signed up for a trip to Mount Olympus with some colleagues from work and I was just wondering if anyone had any recent experience of staying in mountain huts in Greece.

I have plenty of experience of the French/Swiss/Italian/Austrian refuges in the Alps/Dolomites etc. but I have only ever spent time sunning myself on the beach in Greece, so I just wondered how the Greek mountain huts might compare.

We will be staying in the Spilios Agapitos (also known as "Ref A") and the Giossos Apostolodis (also known as "Ref SEO"). I have done the usual Google searches and they look like pretty civilised places, but I was hoping that someone out in UKC Land could fill in a few of the gaps like :-

... Are elec points available for charging camera batteries ?
... Do they provide "hut slippers", or do you need to bring your own trainers ?
... Is bottled water/soft drinks readily available ?
... Are UK style trail snacks (Mars Bars etc.) available ?
... Any chance of a shower ??

Thanks in advance

Alan

In reply to Alan Mc:

What ........... no-one on UKC has any info. on Greek huts ??

Come on Guys

In reply to Alan Mc:

bump

It's something I'm interested in too

James

In reply to Alan Mc:

Hi Alan

I've stayed in the hut on Olympus - Ref A (well, they let me camp outside in a tent). Can't remember about hut slippers, but I had nothing other than my boots with me and didn't have any issues, so I'm guessing they had them or else I just padded about in my socks (or they didn't mind my boots).

Not sure about electric points - they had electricity, so it is possible that they allowed people to use points for charging stuff up, but I can't remember. They sold snacks (I believe they had Snickers and Mars) and soft drinks (and water too I think). The evening meal was very good too. I'm hazy about the shower situation (as I said, we were outside in my tent and not using their dorms), but I'm not sure they had any.

They were very friendly and happily looked after our camping gear as we went up to the summit of Olympus and picked it up on the way back down.

I also phoned in advance of going to check about camping and the lady who answered spoke decent English (if you don't speak Greek) and would probably be able to answer your questions if you want to do the same.

Damien (by the way you know me from a trip to Mera Peak in 2007!)

In reply to Alan Mc:
With regard to Refuge A it is very civilised.
- electric points - sorry I cannot remember, but I think not.
- inside is a no boots zone, so yes flip flops or the like may be usefull
- yes, but I just use the tap water (snow melt stored in a tank)
- snacks - yes
- shower - yes (but it is rather cold!)
- worth taking a sleeping bag liner!
Refuge A is very clean and well run. I have never used Refuge SEO.
Oh, and sign the summit book

In reply to mountainbagger:

Thanks for that Damien, I hope you and C are getting out and ticking off plenty big hills.

Allan has just finished the Pennine Way with a pal of his, but it seems to be a struggle to get him interested in any of the foreign trips these days - we couldn't get him out to Toubkal and he turned down this trip as it clashed with a golf event !!!

Let me know if you will be heading up north this year as it would be good to meet up with you and C for a wander around the Lakeland hills or similar.

Cheers

Alan

In reply to MtnDze:

Thanks for the reply - all useful stuff, and a good tip about the sleeping bag liner.

Cheers

Alan

In reply to Alan Mc: Yes, I seem to remember you saying last time we met in Wasdale that Allan had lost his mojo after Nepal!

We're actually coming up to the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales for a week in a couple of weeks time. Hoping to do a bit of easy single pitch climbing and some hill-walking. w/c 4th July if you're about. We haven't planned exactly where we'll be when yet thopugh!

Damien

In reply to mountainbagger:

I already have Monday 5th July booked off work as my friend Dave (I'm sure you will remember Dave from Wasdale - he's the one that never stops talking !) has a "special" birthday on that day and a group of us will be celebrating it with a bivi on top of Scafell Pike on the Sunday night.

I doubt I will be able to get any more time off work that week as things are quite hectic there right now.

I hope you enjoy your week "oop north" and I will keep in touch.

Cheers

Alan

In reply to Alan Mc: Sounds like it will be a great birthday treat - can't think of anything better than being out in the hills like that!

Have a good one.
D